I've Been Pasting: Silhouettes

By Julie

When I decided to change the header on my notes on paper blog last month I knew that, if I were to replace all of the much-loved kitschy, colourful, patterned bits and pieces which made up my original design, I'd have to make sure that the new one was something I could love just as much.

And I knew exactly what that thing should be.

A silhouetted bird:

I love bird designs in general and had been noticing how many bird silhouettes there seem to be around the place all of a sudden, there's even a Twitter profile page background featuring them. Perhaps I even subliminally shared the Johnny Flynn video with you on here last month because, as I've realised since, that too features bird silhouettes.

But mostly ideas of small, black, winged things have been on my mind due to this:

Image source

Ever since I came across that photo via Amanda Johnson's blog I haven't been able to get it out of my head. To say I'm tempted is an understatement! Seriously.

As if I needed any external nudge that maybe this could be the tattoo for me, when I logged on to Flickr to get you the link for the above image, I saw that a friend of mine had just that moment uploaded this photo to his gallery:

Come on now... that must be a sign? Musn't it?

Well, while I consider my options you can feast your eyes on a flavour of some of the other silhouette designs which have been grabbing my attention lately.

This is one of my favourite works from Wilhelm Staehle's Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre

[you should check out the other designs too, they're a a great mix of comedy... and silhouettes, so what's not to love?]:

Or how about resting your head on one of his pillow cases? Then there are these pretties made by the fair hand of our very own Kirsty as part of our 12 Days online class last November:

And finally there's the following, hand-cut, 'Birds on Paper Wires' from mr.Yen's etsy shop:

How lovely?

I think I've surprised myself at how much I've become drawn to clean simple designs lately. I think they compliment the other half of my 'lots-of-pattern-throw-more-stuff-on-there' character quite nicely.

I think 'balance' is a good word for what these silhoutted designs can bring to the walls of my rooms, the pillows on my bed .... and maybe even the skin of my back?????

What design styles have you been surprised to find yourself day-dreaming about? Have you got any secret plans to adorn your body with them? We always like a bit of crafty gossip here at C+P ....do tell ...

Julie :D